During my non-violent techniques class a couple of weeks ago, the instructor shared this poem. I thought it was excellent for a counselor's consideration. Consider the following:Listen

When I ask you to listen to me andYou start giving me advice, you have not done what I have askedWhen I ask you to listen to me andYou begin to tell me why I shouldn’t feel that way.You are trampling on my feelings.When I ask you to listen to me andYou feel you have to do somethingTo solve my problem,You have failed me. Strange as that may seem.Listen: all that I ask you to do is listen.Not talk or do—just hear me.When you do something for meThat I can and need to do for myselfYou contribute to my fear and inadequacy.But when you accept as a simple factThat I feel what I feel, no matter how irrationalThen I can quit trying to convince youAnd get about this business of understanding what’s behind them.So please listen and just hear me.And, if you want to talk, wait a minute for your turn.And I’ll listen to you.--Anonymous